Get ready for an adventure as you set off on New Zealand's longest continuous cycle trail from Christchurch to Christchurch.

Discover the stunning scenery of New Zealand's backcountry as you cycle your way through Aoraki Mount Cook, the Elephant Rocks and multiple lakes all the way to the beautiful East Coast. If you love cycling, adventure and the great outdoors, then this Alps to Ocean Biking Adventure will not disappoint.

Package Inclusions:

All Meals - Breakfast, lunch, dinner. (Except where indicated on the itinerary. Alcohol not included)
Guiding Services - 2 guides per trip, a lead guide/driver, and a co-guide/chef.
Standard Bike Hire
Activities - Hiking and biking. (Includes bike hire and helicopter flight across the Tasman River to Rotten Tommy trail.)
Accommodation – 5 nights. (A range of hotels, lodges, chalets, inns, sheep stations and backcountry huts)
All Transportation for the trip from start to finish. (Includes airport transfer on the first and last day)

Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive, drive to Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, bike fitting

Once you've met up at the pick-up hotel or Christchurch Airport, you’ll head south to the magnificent Aoraki Mount Cook. Along the way, enjoy a picnic lunch nestled in the foothills of the Southern Alps. After arrival in Aoraki Mt Cook National Park, you'll be fitted with bikes for our trip before embarking on a scenic 8km (5 miles) ride to White Horse Campground. If there's time you'll take a popular walk along Hooker Valley, around 2-3 hours return. To wrap up an adventure-packed day you’ll be spending the night at lodgings in Aoraki Mount Cook Village.

Stay: Aoraki Mt Cook Lodgings

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Hiking Distance (time permitting): 9 kilometres (5.6 miles), 2-3 hours

Biking Distance: 8 kilometres (5 miles), 0.5 hours

Day 2: Helicopter flight, ride Braemar Road to Tekapo B Power Station

After breakfast, it's a short ride from the start of the trail at White Horse Hill Campground, to the helipad, where you will enjoy a helicopter flight over the Tasman River to 'Rotten Tommy', the next section of the Alps to Ocean trail. The pilot will fly you and your bikes over the thundering waters of the river, before setting off from the end of Braemar road to Tekapo B Power Station, one of the hydroelectric stations on this network. Spend the night at Braemar Station, a working sheep farm.

Stay: Braemar Station, Mackenzie Country

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Biking Distance: 53 kilometres (33 miles)

Day 3: Bike from Lake Pukaki to Lake Ohau Lodge

From Tekapo B Power Station, you'll skirt the rest of the east side of Lake Pukaki, but before you leave this lake behind, you'll stop off at the lookout point for a water break (around 13kilometres/8 miles into today's ride). This is your opportunity to capture one of the most famous scenes in New Zealand - looking across the cobalt blue water of the lake to Aoraki Mt Cook. Next, you'll pass through the town of Twizel, before following the quiet, sealed roads where you can enjoy views of Lake Ohau and the surrounding peaks.

Stay: Lake Ohau Lodge, Ohau

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Biking Distance: 62 kilometres (38.5 miles)

Day 4: Bike Lake Ohau Lodge to Otematata

Today's section of the Alps to Ocean trail starts with a grunty climb, so it's a good idea to stretch and be warm before jumping on your bike today! You'll climb up from the Lodge at 560 metres (1837 feet) to the highest point on the whole trail, Tarnbrae, at 900 metres (2953 feet). Along the way, you'll cross Parsons, Sawyers, and Freehold Creek, before enjoying an uninterrupted downhill almost all the way to Omarama. After a break, you'll push on another 24 kilometres (15 miles) and arrive in Otematata.

Stay: Omarama Lodgings, Omarama

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Biking Distance: 69 kilometres (42.9 miles)

Day 5: Bike Otematata to Duntroon via Benmore Hydro Dam and Kurow

Today starts with a 45 kilometre (30 miles) ride from Otematata to Kurow, and almost all of this section is on low-traffic, tar-sealed roads - which might be a welcome break for your bum after yesterday's climb! Pass over the Benmore Hydro Dam, New Zealand's second-largest hydro station, before skirting the edge of Lake Aviemore and on to Kurow. You'll stop to for a leg stretch before tackling the second part of the day, a 28-kilometre ride from Kurow to Duntroon, before catching the bus back to Kurow where you'll spend the night.

Stay: Kurow Accommodation, Kurow

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Biking Distance: 73 kilometres (45.4 miles)

Day 6: Bike the final leg of the A2O trail, Duntroon to Oamaru, depart

Today is your last day together and you'll finish in style - with the final 54 kilometres (33.5 miles) from Duntroon to the Pacific Ocean at Oamaru. Pass through irrigated farmland, as well as Elephant Rocks, before following an old railway which includes a tunnel of around 100 metres in length (328 feet). Once you've reached Oamaru, you'll wind your way into Oamaru Gardens, which the trail passes through, and follow the Victorian Historic Precinct to the harbour where the trail ends at the aptly named 'Friendly Bay'. After exploring the Victorian Precinct on foot, and enjoying a beer to celebrate your efforts, you'll hit the road back to Christchurch and say your goodbyes.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Biking Distance: 54 kilometres (33.5 miles)

Seville Walking Tour by Antonio Doblas & team

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